KIGALI - The Program coordinator for the Fund for Genocide Survivors-FARG, has welcomed the move by the Ministry of Local Government to change the procedures of paying for students who benefit from the program. The ministry is set to begin paying students sponsored by the fund directly so that they can in turn pay their tuition fees and be responsible for their upkeep.

"Under the previous system, the procedures for students to get the money were very tedious. Banks would charge fees for the transfers and the amount of money meant for students would be reduced,” Jean-Marie Rwagatare told The New Times.

In the new arrangement, students will receive their money on their personal accounts instead channelling it through district budgets.

FARG had also been accused for procuring poor quality school equipment that was distributed countrywide to students.

Rwagatare added that FARG was happy and that even university students with accounts had began receiving their money.

With the onset of the public financial management systems, the government has introduced reforms in public offices. Even Mutual health insurance funds will be paid directly at health centres instead of district authorities.

District authorities been accused of corruption in handling the funds. Recently, The Minister Of Local Government Protais Musoni  said in a press conference that " the lowest administrative officials have accountability problems which was a result of corruption.”

In a related development, the government has supplied cell administrations across the country with 43,000 iron roofing to assist vulnerable survivors of the genocide.

Ends